A Spot of Happiness

So I've been gone (obviously :D) well- not on vacation or anything fun like that- just gone from the crafting table and blogging world. I was excited to have a stranger approach me via facebook and ask me if I could do some sort of invite keepsake for her daughter's first birthday. She saw some of the cards I had on sale in my local network and loved them. I said of course! I was so thrilled that my name is getting out there some how- as small as that somehow is. So I worked with her to see what she wanted and she gave me the colour pallette and gave me complete creative liberty. *sigh* isn't that the best? When you can just whip something up. Then again- it's also nice to have guidelines and such when you're in a creative slump and have something you need to make for someone.

SO in typical Brandie-fashion- I had two weeks to complete it and I left it til last minute. Which meant that the Thursday night before it was due I decided to stay up til 2:30 am detailing the cards and making the chocolates- and I still wasn't done! Don't worry- it was finished before it was due- and I had time Friday afternoon to shower and clean up the house- so that was okay. BUT if I am serious about turning this into a business, this experience has shown me that I definatly need to be better organized with my time. Tho I am please with myself in how I organized my materials and assembly-lined my production- so that aspect of crafting for profit has gotten better :) SO here is what I made:

What she wanted (now this is a sample- so the actual ones were a bit more refined) was a card that had a cute poem in it. I thought of making a pocket card with a window in which the poem could slip in and out. This was fun doing one- but once the idea of doing 25 came into play, you see how tedious the detailing really is. So the card 4.5x3.75 (the pocket) and it was simple enough to do. I had a hard time figuring out how to make the window as I don't own an spellbinder dies which would have made the process alot cleaner AND easier. So I relied on my trusty ruler and exacto knife. I left a quarter inch on the top, and half an inch around the other three sides. The font is sweetheart script in size 12- you could go size 11- any smaller and you can't read it. Any larger and it was too large for the card. So I added a cute frame with I cut from my Storybook Cricut Cartridge. I LOVE that cartridge! It was the owl one (if you have it, check your booklet and you find out how to do the frame with the owl in it) and I just cut the owl out. The I stamped it with a flourish and embossed it with my mix of embossing/glitter powder. So here's the insert:

I buy the cardstock packs from the paper company found at Michaels. There isn't a LOT of colour selection (not like Stampin' Up- I am so excited to be placing and order with them soon! My very first !!!) anyways, for the pack it's not bad- nice weight cardstock, 11x8.5, 50 sheets, 5 colours for $5.00 CND at Michaels. Nice. So I used the Dark Pink found in the Baby Girl pack, cut at 3.75x5 (enough of an edge at the top to scallop it), Mint Green found in the Seaside pack (and other packs too) cut at 3.5x4.5 and then Beige (in SO MANY packs!) cut at 3.25x5. What I did to print the poem, was: using my Windows program (I have vista) I divided my 'page' into two collums and spaced it out so I could fit four poems on one page. Cut the paper in half at 4.25 and then it was just tweeking to get it centered. Then I used a ribbon to add some detail and stamped and embossed the poem as well.

To finish the pocket, I used cuttlebug 2x6 flowers to cut out the flowers- then I dabbed them with ink (NOT a very clean process!) and embossed them. I didn't know at the time- but I thought these were invites- but she called everyone to invite them. So the pocket is cute- tho pointless :P You could do what I did, or add a photo behind the insert OR your insert could have all the party information on it with a poem or pic behind it! To compliment the cards, I also did up a sample party favour- here it is!
Again, I used the scalloped frame idea, tho this time I used a solid scalloped square from the Storybook Cartridge. I had to cut the center out, and I just did a half an inch on all four sides. Again stamped and embossed (on the real ones, I also stamped and embossed the sentiment underneath in the same green swirls). I used pop dots under the frame to give it a 3D look and added the flowers. The box is 3x3x1 and it fits four chocolate cups. I made my own for this, as I said before, candy making is also a hobby of mine. So voila! Next time I'll give myself MORE time.

Now the reason I named my blog such, is that I've been in somewhat of a funk as of late. It has to do with adhesive. Seriously. I can't find the right glue at the right price and get the right amount. I realized that that was just the tip of the iceberg. I've been feeling a bit "blah" with my crafting lately because I don't think I'm as good as all those professional crafters out there. I am very competitive and compare myself to alot of other people. I know I know- not very Christian as who I am should only be found in Christ- but it is hard not to sometimes. So I have come to the realization that I just love to craft. I don't need to own a business or be in a magazine or work on a design team to have purpose (tho any of those things WOULD be pretty cool!) so what is crafting to me? It's my spot of happiness. It's my escape. My creative outlet. My inexpensive gift giving ability :) It's that and so much more than I am grateful to God for blessing me with the ability to do these things and make so many other people happy. So whenever you yourself are in a funk- just ask yourself why? Why do you craft? What is your craft to you? Anyways- I'm done blathering on :) Take care!